When Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise in 1993, it was touted as the Green Bay of the South. The idea was that as the only professional sports team in a small market, Jacksonville could duplicate the passion for football that is a trademark of the Packer franchise.

Since the Packers, who started playing in the forerunner of the NFL in 1921 after being an independent team the previous two years, have nine decades of history, it’s too soon to determine what the future holds for Jacksonville in the NFL. And whether they can match the Packers’ popularity.

It’s not even accurate to call the Packers, who have 13 championships, including four Super Bowls, a small market team. They are revered in Wisconsin and enjoy a huge national following.

As the Jaguars prepare to play the Packers Sunday at historic Lambeau Field, here’s a comparison of the two franchises:

FOUNDED

Jaguars: 1993 — awarded expansion team and began play in 1995.

Packers: 1919 — an independent team before beginning league play in the forerunner of the NFL in 1921.

Fan loyalty was earned by front offices and players that played football first and collected their smaller pay checks later.
As a new expansion team and in the era of millionaire players and coaches, a team has to earn loyalty by winning or at least competing.
The Jags have done neither for years.

People in Green Bay, Wisconsin support the Packers regardless what the won-loss record is. Back in the 70's and 80's when the Packers lost more games than they won, every home game was still sold out.This in a city with a population of 100,000. Jacksonville, Florida has a population of more than 1,000,000 and can't even sell out one game.